What Our Clients Are Saying


Mike Abbene, V.P./CIO-Retired
Arch Coal

“We were extremely pleased with our enterprise information security risk assessment performed by Brown Smith Wallace. They identified several different areas that were at risk, and developed the foundation to increase control of our information security. As a result of their expertise, more than 30 policies were rewritten, consolidated or created.”


Gregory H. Klaus, Chief Financial Officer
The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company

"They do a great job for us."


Jessica Herr, Director, Financial Planning - former
Belden, Inc.

“Brown Smith Wallace has been instrumental in helping Belden build its internal audit, enterprise risk management, and Sarbanes-Oxley programs. I really appreciate the level of partner involvement and thought leadership and the impact they have had on our company.”


Neil Jaffe, Co-President
The Booksource

“We’re a family business so we have business needs, personal financial needs and issues that often fall into both camps. We’ve received excellent succession planning advice and assistance from Brown Smith Wallace as well as practical valuation and gifting advice. We rely on the firm for all of our accounting and tax advice, where we also regularly receive value added ideas. Our advisers are very patient in explaining the various impacts of key decisions on both the business and each family member. Each family member is very glad we turned a new page in our accounting firm relationship.”


Jim Acker, CFO
CCA Global Partners

“A few years ago, we made the decision to move our audit and tax work to a larger firm. We had grown considerably, and were looking for a firm that could provide value beyond just the traditional audit and tax work that we had needed in the past. Our requirements did not preclude a firm that was unfamiliar with our industry from being chosen, but certainly the size of the firm and their commitment to quality were important factors to us. We were looking for a good fit and a good partner. After an extensive review, we chose Brown Smith Wallace to be our partner.

From the start of our engagement, Brown Smith Wallace did not disappoint, as they initially impressed us with their audit and tax knowledge and capabilities. Early on, they recommended a change in a tax filing that saved us a considerable sum of money....and we realized they had a whole lot more to offer. We have used them to assist us with acquisitions, conduct penetration tests of our IT security, and perform a variety of operational and financial special projects.

If you are looking for an accounting firm that adds real value, strives to understand your business, and is committed to being a long-term partner, you should talk to Brown Smith Wallace.”


Michael L. Spurgeon, Director of Administration
City of St. Charles

“During the year we have been worked with Brown Smith Wallace, I have found that their team has tremendous expertise in local government financial operations. They have demonstrated a keen understanding of our risks and worked with our city officials to develop sensible solutions to mitigate those risks. Moreover, they have provided us with a number of suggested “best practices” in day-to-day operations and have helped document the way we do things. I can say without question that Brown Smith Wallace has truly made a measurable difference for the City of St. Charles and its finance department. I would recommend their organization for any work for which they are under consideration.


Mason Rotelli, CIO & VP Inventory Management
Communications Supply Corp.

“BSW Consulting has incredible depth of knowledge about the distribution business. They listen, and take what they learn to actionable results. Their ERP selection experience was invaluable to CSC. Without question, BSW had the most positive rate of return of ANY consulting firm I have ever hired, and I’ve hired a lot of consultants over the years”.


Paul K. Fields, Chief Financial Officer
Custom Disability Solutions
A division of Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co.

"Excellent service, great audit firm."


Mark C. Dougherty, Director, Information Services
Distribution Management, Inc.

“The security team at Brown Smith Wallace has been extremely helpful in providing us a roadmap to PCI compliance. They have listened, been proactive and pragmatic. A key element in our relationship is getting the right balance between overcoming compliance issues and getting the day-to-day business done. The Brown Smith Wallace security team is very experienced and knowledgeable.”


Kevin Drollinger, Executive Director 
Epworth Children and Family Services

“We switched to Brown Smith Wallace two years ago. Their professionalism, deep nonprofit connections, up-to-the minute industry knowledge and their superb staff have led to fresh, timely and thoughtful reports to the Board of Directors and the Senior Staff. I recommend them highly!”


Jim Millman, President
Hamilton Metals

“When I consulted with Brown Smith Wallace about my individual taxes, they pointed out a recent technical development that applied directly to my individual situation and as a result were able to reduce my overall tax liability. They also reviewed my Company’s prior year corporate state returns and found that one state’s apportionment factor had been overstated. In the end, they were able to identify significant tax savings on both my individual and corporate tax returns. Needless to say, I’m delighted with their attention to detail and focus on providing value."


Paul Janerico, Vice President, Internal Audit
Independence Holding Company

“Brown Smith Wallace provides us with detail-oriented, user friendly service as our outsourced internal audit provider. They’ve been very helpful in enhancing our controls with their internal control and operational recommendations. We have made particularly good use of their sampling resources and they have provided us with very helpful, independent support to our SOX compliance efforts. I am very impressed with the depth of their insurance industry knowledge, and I find them very approachable and easy to work with. They have demonstrated great flexibility in our dynamic environment."


Sherry Meeks, VP-Internal Audit Manager
Integra Bank N.A.

“Brown Smith Wallace’s IT security professionals helped the bank enhance our control over technology with proactive advice, attention to scope and budget with insights into best practices."


Greg Fowler, P.E., President and CEO
J.F. Electric, Incorporated

“J. F. Electric has been a client of Brown Smith Wallace for over 30 years and I can attest to the fact that they provide a measurable difference and have assisted our firm in many aspects of our business. Brown Smith Wallace provides our annual certified financial audits, monthly financial reviews with management, tax strategies and benefits analysis, business risk services, insurance and employee benefits analysis and recommendations, management consulting services as well as other valuable services. The management and support staff of Brown Smith Wallace that we have had the pleasure to have worked with over the past many years, have all been very knowledgeable and experienced in their field of expertise. They consistently exceed our expectations in every way."


Mike Wenos, President
Madison Mutual Insurance Company

“Brown Smith Wallace has been our audit provider for the past six years. Our inherent trust in the quality of their services and the strength of our relationship led us to select them for additional projects related to risk and IT consulting. As a comprehensive accounting and business advisory firm, they have the broad expertise we need coupled with dedication to superior service. As a result of these projects we are in a much better position to make the appropriate business decisions.”


Larry Huddleston, Office Manager
Markway Construction Co.

“The longer we work with Brown Smith Wallace, the more we feel they’re a partner in our success. What stands out about Brown Smith Wallace is their willingness to listen to us. Offering us strong insights and guidance is the value added we’ve come to depend on.


Thomas G. Granneman, Corporate VP and Controller
Ralcorp Holdings, Inc.

“We originally hired Brown Smith Wallace to audit our benefit plans because they offered a lower price point than our Big Four firm. Very quickly, we began to understand that the quality they offered was higher than what we were accustomed to. So it has been a win-win for us.”


John Schneiderhahn, President
Rommex Enterprises, dba Aqua World

“I have worked with Brown Smith Wallace for years because they understand my needs and my business. I was even more impressed when I was subject to a Missouri sales tax audit. Due to their high level of expertise, the Department of Revenue went away empty handed. I couldn’t have been happier.”


Drew Dennison, Managing Director of Accounting and Finance
Scottrade

“Brown Smith Wallace has been able to deliver exceptional value at an excellent price point. They delivered exactly what they promised: they met fieldwork and delivery deadlines; they assigned experienced benefit plan auditors,and they knew the information they needed and only asked once. I would highly recommend them."


Tom Beitel, Vice President, Finance, Global Zone Operations
Siemens PLM Software

“I joined what is now Siemens PLM Software in late 2004 after a career in public accounting with a Big Four firm. I started the Internal Audit function, and co-sourced with Brown Smith Wallace for our international and domestic SOX and internal audit work. Initially, I used a Big 4 firm for the IT audit and controls testing for our global SAP environment. After the first year, I moved all the work to Brown Smith Wallace because they demonstrated their expertise and know-how. Our IT management appreciated the service improvement from Brown Smith Wallace’s more experienced and competent IT audit professionals. Although the nature of the projects we do with Brown Smith Wallace has evolved over the past 5 years, we continue to work with them because they combine high quality service with fair rates to deliver value. In short, it’s always quality work with no surprises.”


Matt Lambeth, Vice President
Sky Zone LLC

“Brown Smith Wallace has helped us develop our accounting procedures so our business could grow. With their help, we have streamlined and standardized our billing and accounting procedures across multiple facilities. Without the advice and attention to detail they provided, this would be impossible.”


Anne Kessen Lowell, Executive Director
South Side Day Nursery

“We were at a crossroads and needed experts—people who understand non-profit management and accounting—to conduct our audit.  Brown Smith Wallace came in and assisted us in significantly reducing a government repayment demand on a large grant.  They have lots of smart people who know how to hone in on the most critical issues and continue to make recommendations that help us get better at our accounting processes—they genuinely care about our results.  In fact, they are one of the most professional, respectful firms I have ever worked with.”


Jim Cali, Director of Internal Audit
St. Louis Metropolitan Transit Agency (METRO)

“Brown Smith Wallace understands what it means to work with their clients to achieve their goals. They understand risk management and have the experience to see the big picture without losing sight of the details. I found the professionals at Brown Smith Wall to be very knowledgeable and very easy to work with. They took the time to truly understand our organizational framework and corporate goals. They completed the engagement on time and within the budget. Working with Brown Smith Wallace was a pleasure.”


Charlie Gallagher, Sr., Chairman | Charlie Gallagher, President | Dave Breen, CFO
United Fruit and Produce Company Inc.

“Brown Smith Wallace provides us with a wide variety of professional advice and assistance on both company and personal financial issues, including estate planning, tax consulting, IRS audit assistance, compliance and financial statement support. They’re an important contributor to our successful operation."


Hans Wiemann
Executive, Investor, Real Estate Operator

“Brown Smith Wallace provides me with very attentive, quality service. With all my endeavors, my tax situation is very complicated, but they keep it simple for me. I’m an entrepreneur, not a tax expert. Their advice and assistance in this area is invaluable to me. It’s also fun to work with them, in fact, my partner is also my friend.”


Mark Solari, Chief Financial Officer
Youth In Need

“Working with Brown Smith Wallace’s NPO team you have more of a partnership than I’ve experienced in working with a number of accounting firms over the last 20 years. There’s independence, there’s professionalism, but you’re working with people you enjoy and trust.  There’s no arrogance; just a mutual respect shown for all levels of our team from theirs.  You feel like you’re in this together—they  have a true concern with the success of our agency.  And we don’t have to train them, from year to year and one financial area to another—there’s always someone knowledgeable to help you.”


Satisfied Consulting Client
Law Firm, St. Louis, MO

"The Financial Advisory Services team provides attention to detail, but remains efficient and delivers real value. That decreases my deadline worries. You know you are working with true subject matter experts, their credentials aren’t just words on a CV."

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